THERE are ‘surprising levels’ of agreement among many Christians and secularists that the proposed adoption by the government of a new definition of Islamophobia will do nothing to eradicate anti-Muslim prejudice. Instead it will have ‘a chilling effect on freedom of speech’ and could be used to ‘shield extremists from criticism.’
.... "England and Wales’s blasphemy law was scrapped in 2008, but formalising this definition will result in it being employed effectively as something of a backdoor blasphemy law.
The phrase ‘expressions of Muslimness’ within the definition can easily be translated to mean Islamic practices. And the inclusion of the phrase ‘perceived Muslimness’ will have a worrying impact on reformist and feminist Muslims, as well as ex-Muslims and minorities – such as the estimated 30,000 Ahmadiyya Muslims in Britain." [The Freethinker] Read more
